Carl Pavano wanted to pitch the ninth inning. He wanted to fire another complete game against the Mets.

“Obviously for the team and personally,” Pavano said. “I can admit that. Personally I wanted to go out there and get this and I feel pretty good about it.”

He should feel ecstatic. Pavano — the ex-Yankees joke who’s better known in these parts as “American Idle” for all his disabled list time in pinstripes — dominated the Mets at Citi Field, outdueling Johan Santana and firing a three-hit, complete-game shutout in the Twins’ 6-0 win.

Flashing a fastball in the low-90s range, Pavano struck out four, the last two with a change-up. He caught David Wright looking at a change in the seventh, then got Chris Carter to chase one to end the eighth.